Pikemen in Total War: Arena Total War Arena Guide & Walkthrough

Factions: Greece

Pikemen are one of the most powerful units, exclusive to Greece. Their bigger advantage is front defense and additional armor. Pikemen work best against cavalry, with Velites and archers being the most challenging unit. When it comes to swordsmen - your skill counts. A well-applied phalanx (a formation available from level 3) will allow you to defeat more than one unit of swordsmen, but you cannot get surrounded.

Spearmen can form in the phalanx - a formation that offers good attack and defense. Watch out for stamina levels, as when it comes up to 80% your unit will stop defending properly.

1. Use Alt to change the width of the formation - a wide formation allows you to defend a larger area (e.g. crossings, entrance to the base) and survive incoming arrow volleys. A narrow formation will enable you to defend against attacks coming from various sides.
2. Pikemen are rather slow. Ambushes and entering forests is not recommended - even the swordsmen will escape and return with archer fire.

Phalanx:

1. Using Phalanx means choosing the icon of the formation and choosing a target. You can order your units to move forward to make the attack faster - this move will make your units tired, enabling the enemy unit to attack you from behind.
2. Observe the enemy unit while using phalanx. If the enemy comes too close, change the formation by holding the right mouse button.
3. Using phalanx increases the tiredness of your units. If it gets close to 80%, your unit's defense suffers. If needed, order your unit to make a few steps backwards - when the unit is out of combat, the bar will start to drop.
4. Phalanx can also hurt your allies. Turn it off when you are entering combat supported by your allies. Moreover, always deactivate the formation when you are surrounded.
5. Do not place yourself near walls - on the one hand, your back is protected, but on the other you cannot retreat to rest.
6. Pikemen can be led by King Leonidas, Miltiades, or Alexander the Great.

1. Abilities and Attributes

Pike Phalanx

Activate the phalanx formation. You receive increased defense and attack power, but only on the frontal side. Move in the direction of your opponent to cause high damage. Watch out for the sides and the back, as well as the tiredness level - when it reaches the red area, make a few steps backwards. Cooldown Period: 10s.

Piercing Strikes (Level 6)

Deal increased armor piercing damage for 8 seconds, then your damage gets lowered by 50% for the next 8 seconds. Cooldown Period: 25s.

1. Consumables

Thales' Council

Increase the morale and defensiveness of the unit.

Share Wine

Activate to increase the morale of a unit for 10 seconds.

Olympic Trials

Increases the damage and improves melee defense.

Double Rations

Improves the basic attack and defense of a unit and increases morale.

Share Rations

Item: use to increase your defense for 10 seconds.

Whetstones (Level 6)

Item: increases the piercing power of your attacks during melee combat for 10 seconds.